B-Site Co-Doping Coupled with Additive Passivation Pushes the Efficiency of Pb-Sn Mixed Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells to Over 17.

Pb-Sn mixed inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have garnered increasing interest as a viable solution to mitigate the thermal instability and lead toxicity of hybrid lead-based PSCs. However, the relatively poor structural stability and low device efficiency hinder its further development. Herein, high-performance manganese (Mn)-doped Pb-Sn-Mn-based inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are successfully developed by introducing Benzhydroxamic Acid (BHA) as multifunctional additive. The incorporation of smaller divalent Mn cations contributes to a contraction of the perovskite crystal, leading to an improvement in structural stability. The BHA additive containing a reductive hydroxamic acid group (O═C-NHOH) not only mitigates the notorious oxidation of Sn2+ but also interacts with metal ions at the B-site and passivates related defects. This results in films with high crystallinity and low defect density. Moreover, the BHA molecules tend to introduce a near-vertical dipole moment that parallels the built-in electric field, thus facilitating charge carrier extraction. Consequently, the resulting device delivers a champion PCE as high as 17.12%, which represents the highest reported efficiency for Pb-Sn-based inorganic PSCs thus far. Furthermore, the BHA molecule provides an in situ encapsulation of the perovskite grain boundary, resulting in significant enhancement of device air stability.

Remarkable Stability and Optoelectronic Properties of an All-Inorganic CsSn0.5Ge0.5I3 Perovskite Solar Cell.

Sn-Ge mixed perovskites have been proposed as promising lead-free candidates in the photovoltaics (PV) field. In this work, we discovered a stable P1 phase Sn-Ge mixed structure (CsSn0.5Ge0.5I3) with an appropriate band gap value of 1.19 eV, which manifests its unique structural stability and physics properties. The thermodynamic stability of this mixed structure under different growth conditions and all possible native defects are depicted in detail. The formation energies and dominant native point defects indicate that P1 phase CsSn0.5Ge0.5I3 exhibits unipolar self-doping behavior (p-type conductivity) and good defect tolerance while the growth condition changes. In addition, the calculation of light absorption confirmed that the P1 phase has a higher light absorption coefficient than that of MAPbI3 in the visible light range, showing excellent light absorption. Our work not only provides theoretical guidance for unraveling the unusual structural stability of Sn-Ge mixed perovskites, but also offers a useful scheme to modulate the stability and optoelectronic properties of Ge-based perovskites through alloy engineering.

Optoelectronic Properties of α-MoO3 Tuned by H Dopant in Different Concentration.

The optoelectronic properties of layered α-MoO3 are greatly limited due to its wide band gap and low carrier concentration. The insertion of hydrogen (H) can effectively tune the band structure and carrier concentration of MoO3. Herein, first-principles calculations were performed to unravel the physical mechanism of a H-doped α-MoO3 system. We found that the modulation of the electronic structure of H-doped MoO3 depends on the doping concentration and position of the H atoms. It was found that the band gap decreases at 8% doping concentration due to the strong coupling between Mo-4d and O-2p orbits when H atoms are inserted into the interlayer. More interestingly, the band gap decreases to an extreme due to the Mo-4d orbit when all the H atoms are inserted into the intralayer only, which has a remarkable effect on light absorption. Our research provides a comprehensive theoretical discussion on the mechanism of H-doped α-MoO3 from the doping positions and doping concentrations, and offers useful strategies on doping modulation of the photoelectric properties of layered transition metal oxides.

A Multiple Salient Features-Based User Identification across Social Media.

Identifying users across social media has practical applications in many research areas, such as user behavior prediction, commercial recommendation systems, and information retrieval. In this paper, we propose a multiple salient features-based user identification across social media (MSF-UI), which extracts and fuses the rich redundant features contained in user display name, network topology, and published content. According to the differences between users' different features, a multi-module calculation method is used to obtain the similarity between various redundant features. Finally, the bidirectional stable marriage matching algorithm is used for user identification across social media. Experimental results show that: (1) Compared with single-attribute features, the multi-dimensional information generated by users is integrated to optimize the universality of user identification; (2) Compared with baseline methods such as ranking-based cross-matching (RCM) and random forest confirmation algorithm based on stable marriage matching (RFCA-SMM), this method can effectively improve precision rate, recall rate, and comprehensive evaluation index (F1).

An Energy-Efficient Routing Protocol for Reliable Data Transmission in Wireless Body Area Networks.

Wireless body area networks will inevitably bring tremendous convenience to human society in future development, and also enable people to benefit from ubiquitous technological services. However, one of the reasons hindering development is the limited energy of the network nodes. Therefore, the energy consumption in the selection of the next hop must be minimized in multi-hop routing. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an energy efficient routing protocol for reliable data transmission in a wireless body area network. The protocol takes multiple parameters of the network node into account, such as residual energy, transmission efficiency, available bandwidth, and the number of hops to the sink. We construct the maximum benefit function to select the next hop node by normalizing the node parameters, and dynamically select the node with the largest function value as the next hop node. Based on the above work, the proposed method can achieve efficient multi-hop routing transmission of data and improve the reliability of network data transmission. Compared with the priority-based energy-efficient routing algorithm (PERA) and modified new-attempt routing protocol (NEW-ATTEMPT), the simulation results show that the proposed routing protocol uses the maximum benefit function to select the next hop node dynamically, which not only improves the reliability of data transmission, but also significantly improves the energy utilization efficiency of the node and prolongs the network lifetime.

A Survey of Routing Protocols in WBAN for Healthcare Applications.

The emergence of wireless body area network (WBAN) technology has brought hope and dawn to solve the problems of population aging, various chronic diseases, and medical facility shortage. The increasing demand for real-time applications in such networks, stimulates many research activities. Designing such a scheme of critical events while preserving the energy efficiency is a challenging task, due to the dynamic of the network topology, severe constraints on the power supply, and the limited computation power. The design of routing protocols becomes an essential part of WBANs and plays an important role in the communication stacks and has a significant impact on the network performance. In this paper, we briefly introduce WBAN and focus on the analysis of the routing protocol, classify, and compare the advantages and disadvantages of various routing protocols. Lastly, we put forward some problems and suggestions, which provides ideas for the follow-up routing design.

Carnitine, A New Precursor in the Formation of the Plant Growth Regulator Mepiquat.

Carnitine is demonstrated as an effective methyl donor in the formation of the plant growth regulator N, N-dimethylpiperidinium (mepiquat), encompassing either N-methylation/decarboxylation of pipecolic acid, or Maillard pathways followed by transmethylation reactions. The formation of mepiquat and the intermediate compounds was monitored (180-300 °C, up to 180 min) using HPLC-MS/MS in different binary or ternary model systems composed of (i) lysine/fructose/carnitine, (ii) lysine/glucose/carnitine, or (iii) pipecolic acid (PipAc)/carnitine. The highest yield of mepiquat was 2.4% after 120 min incubation at 290 °C (PipAc/carnitine model system). The highest yield was recorded in fructose and glucose (Maillard) systems after 180 min at 230 °C. The full-scan mode was used to monitor the formation of the corresponding intermediates (piperidine and N-methylpiperidine, the demethylated intermediates of carnitine). The new pathways of mepiquat formation indicate that the occurrence of low levels of this thermally induced compound is potentially more widespread in some selected cooked foodstuffs. For the first time, mepiquat was detected in oven-cooked beef, reaching up to 82.5 µg/kg. These amounts are not expected to significantly contribute to the overall exposure via different foodstuffs, as reported in previous studies.

Electroacupuncture Improves Insulin Resistance by Reducing Neuroprotein Y/Agouti-Related Protein Levels and Inhibiting Expression of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B in Diet-induced Obese Rats.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to exert beneficial effects on obesity, but the mechanism is unclear. This study investigated the effects of EA on diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into low-fat diet (LFD, 10 rats) and high-fat diet (HFD, 40 rats) groups. After the DIO models had been established, successful model rats were randomly divided into HFD, EA, and orlistat (OLST) groups. The EA group received EA at Zusanli (ST36) and Quchi (LI11) for 20 minutes once per day for 28 days. The OLST group was treated with orlistat by gavage. The body weight, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index, adipocyte diameters, and neuroprotein Y/agouti-related protein and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B levels were significantly lower in the EA group than in the HFD group. The rats of the OLST group showed watery stools and yellow hairs whereas those of the EA group had regular stools and sleek coats. The effect of EA on weight loss may be related to improved insulin resistance caused by changes in the adipocyte size and by reductions in the expressions of neuroprotein Y/agouti-related protein and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. This study indicates that EA may be a better method of alternative therapy for treating obesity and other metabolic diseases.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on insulin resistance and hypothalamic insulin signal molecule in rats with diet-induced obesity].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on body weight, insulin resistance (IR) and hypothalamic insulin signal molecule in rats with diet-induced obesity (DIO), and to explore the action mechanism of EA on DIO. METHODS: Fifty SD male rats were randomly divided into a low fat diet (LFD) group (10 rats) and a high fat diet (HFD) group (40 rats). Rats were fed with LFD and HFD, respectively, and the DIO model was established in the HFD group. After the model was established, the rats were randomly divided intoa model group, an EA group and a medication group, ten rats in each one. The rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Quchi" (LI 11) for 20 min, once a day for totally 28 days. The rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of orlistat, once a day for 28 days. The rats in the LFD group and model group received no treatment. After treatment, HE staining method was applied to observe the morphological changes of liver; the biochemistry technique and radioimmunoassay method were applied to detect the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FINS); Western blot method was applied to measure the expression of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase p85 subunit (PI3K-p85) and insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2). RESULTS: Under light microscope, compared with the model group, the fatty degenerative cells were below 1/2 in the EA group and the medication group, accompanied with decreased lipid droplet, mild edema and none inflammatory infiltration. The body weight, FPG, FINS, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and PI3K-p85 in the EA group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05), but the expression of IRS2 was not significantly different from the model group (P>0.05). The body weight, HOMA-IR and PI3K-p85 in the medication group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05), but the expression of IRS2 was higher than that in the model group (P<0.05). The differences of each index were not significant between the EA group and the medication group (all P>0.05). In addition, rats in the medication group showed watery defecation, decreased activity, fatigue mentality and yellow hairs, while rats in the EA group showed normal defecation and vivid hair. CONCLUSIONS: EA can decrease the expression of PI3K-p85 to prompt the IR of DIO rats, inhibit the weight body and improve hepatic steatosis, which is probably one of the action mechanisms of EA on DIO. Besides, the adverse effects as the medication group can be avoided.

Effect of Combined Manual Acupuncture and Massage on Body Weight and Body Mass Index Reduction in Obese and Overweight Women: A Randomized, Short-term Clinical Trial.

Obesity is one of the leading health risk factors worldwide and is associated with several other risk factors and health problems. Acupuncture is utilized to treat a variety of health problems, one of which is obesity. Fifty-six obese women with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m(2) were recruited for this trial and were randomly divided into two groups, one with combined manual acupuncture and massage therapy (MAMT), and the other with only manual acupuncture therapy (MAT). In addition, 40 overweight women with BMI 23-25 kg/m(2) were randomly divided into two groups, one with MAMT and the other with MAT. Therapy was carried out once per day for 21 days, and the body weights and the BMIs were recorded every day. The results showed that both MAMT and MAT could reduce body weight and BMI significantly, compared with the pretreatment values, for all the participants (p < 0.001); however, the differences in body weight and BMI reductions between pre- and posttreatment for the MAMT and the MAT groups were not statistically significant. The optimal periods for reductions in both body weight and in BMI were the first 4 days. Accounting for the economic strategy (time and money) in alternative therapy, MAT alone may present a reasonable option in the treatment of overweight and obesity in adults.

Neuron discharge and c-Fos expression in the nucleus of the solitary tract following electroacupuncture at acupoints of the Yangming Stomach Meridian of Foot.

The nucleus of the solitary tract (nucleus tractus solitarii; NTS) is a primary center for both visceral afferents and somatic afferents. Previous experiments have demonstrated that the NTS is closely connected to the stomach and acupoints in the Yangming Stomach Meridian of Foot (ST Meridian). In this study, extracellular recording and immunochemistry methods were used to analyze the discharge of neurons and c-Fos protein expression in the NTS following acupuncture at different acupoints and a nonacupoint. A total of 104 discharging neurons were detected in the NTS of 52 rats, of which 86 provided complete data. After acupuncture at Sibai (ST 2), Zusanli (ST 36), Neiting (ST 44), Quanliao (SI 18), and the nonacupoint, the neuron response rate in the NTS was 65.12%, 51.16%, 46.51%, 34.88% and 31.40% respectively. For neuron response rate, there was a significant difference among Sibai (ST 2), Zusanli (ST 36), Neiting (ST 44), Quanliao (SI 18), and the nonacupoint (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). In the other 48 rats, the number of c-Fos immunoreactive neurons in the NTS by electroacupuncture (EA) at Sibai (ST 2) group was significantly higher than that EA at other acupoints and the nonacupoint (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). EA at both Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiting (ST 44) increased c-Fos immunoreactive neurons significantly over EA at Quanliao (SI 18) and the nonacupoint (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), while there was no difference between EA at Quanliao (SI 18) and the nonacupoint group (p > 0.05). The experiments demonstrated that the afferent convergence in NTS are different by body surface points stimulus, which suggests that the NTS might be a primary center in the central nervous system receiving acupoints stimulus from the ST Meridian.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of moxibustion and exercise for children with short stature of deficience of the kidney essence].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion and exercise comprehensive scheme intervention for children with short stature of deficience of the kidney essence. METHODS: Twenty four cases of children in 12 to 14 years old were selected, 12 male and 12 female, they were treated with comprehensive therapy of exercise therapy and moxibustion. Running and jumping were selected as main exercise therapy, it became a suitable exercise amount when the heart rate reach to 150 to 170 times per minute, thrice each week, 35 to 45 minutes each time. After exercises they were treated with moxibustion, Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Dazhu (BL 11), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Geshu (BL 17) etc. were selected. After treatment for half a year, the changes of the body height, body weight, bone age(BA), growth hormone (GH), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: The body height and bone age of the boys and girls were significantly higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05), the growth of body height was more than 4 cm, the growth of bone age was more than 0.5 years old in half a year; the testosterone of all children was significantly increased (all P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in body weight, GH and E2 compared to those before treatment (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxbustion and exercise comprehensive scheme can effectively improve the children with short stature of deficience of the kidney essence, the mechanism is related to the improving of the testosterone level.